130 Years Of Artistic Vision

From our roots as a small art studio to appearances at the White House and Met Gala, our story begins (and continues on) with one key idea: to create beautiful, artistic pieces of the highest quality.

1889

THE BEGINNING

Walter Scott Lenox opens the Ceramic Art Company: a small studio with a few artists hand-painting ivory china.

SHOWN: Our founder, Walter Scott Lenox, and the Ceramic Art Company

1906

BECOMING LENOX

Ceramic Art Company becomes Lenox Incorporated to pay homage to our founder.

SHOWN: Our Lenox backstamp and an artisan cleaning a vase

1918

AT THE WHITE HOUSE

We become the first American china company to grace a president’s table when President Wilson commissions an official state of service of 1,700 pieces.

SHOWN: Our presidential plates and how they are displayed in the White House

2016

THE GRILL

Lenox recreates the iconic atmosphere of the Four Seasons restaurant, now The Grill, by using Jackie Kennedy’s original inspiration for her White House china.

SHOWN: Dinnerware created for The Grill and a view of the restaurant.

Photograph courtesy of Major Food Group

2019

THE MET GALA

Our Marchesa by Lenox Painted Camellia™ dinner plates grace the tables of the famous Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

SHOWN: Marchesa by Lenox Painted Camellia™ and how it appeared at the Met Gala

Photographed by Corey Tenold for Vogue Magazine

130 Years Of Innovation

From custom monogram plates to hand-applied enamel dots, our standard for quality remains the same, even as our ideas evolve.

1910

BELLEEK

We produce our first dinnerware made in belleek, a cream-colored clay body with ornate engraving.

SHOWN: Silver overlays on top of a belleek body

1917

FULL-COLOR DECALS

We experiment with a new decorating technique of full-color, lithographic decals. The first designs were the Mandarin and Ming patterns, which remained in our product lines for 50 years.

SHOWN: The Ming pattern

1918

ENAMEL DOTS

For the first time ever, we hand-apply enamel dots to our dinnerware to create an elegant, detailed design.

SHOWN: Our Autumn® pattern

1963

WHITE CHINA

We create new, pure white china as an alternative to ivory dinnerware.

SHOWN: Our Kingsley pattern and a vintage bridal ad for Lenox china

1972

TEMPERWARE

We develop Temperware: one of the first ceramic tablewares that safely goes from the freezer to the oven or microwave.

SHOWN: Quakertown by Lenox and a vintage ad showcasing Temperware

2002

MICROWAVE-SAFE

To keep up with the fast-paced lifestyle of the 21 st century, we introduced convenient, microwave-safe metallics.

SHOWN: Continental Dining Gold™ and Marchesa by Lenox Shades of Grey™

130 Years Of Versatility

Our original patterns still grace tables today. See our style tips on how to mix modern pieces with distinguished favorites to create a classic-meets-contemporary tablescape.

1915 & 2018

GOLDEN GLOW

The luxe, 24k gold-etched Westchester™ pattern is instantly updated with the Moroccan-inspired shape of Contempo Luxe™.

1918 & 2017

COLOR SPLASH

This Autumn® dinner plate gets a colorful refresh when paired with our scalloped Marchesa by Lenox Shades of Blue™ accent plate.

1920 & 2015

NIGHT & DAY

The art deco design of Rutledge™ is made modern when paired with the dark backdrop of a Marchesa by Lenox charger plate.

1965 & 2018

EFFORTLESSLY ELEGANT

This feminine pairing combines the '60s designs of Eternal® and Trianna Slate™ with a romantic Goldenrod™ dessert plate.

1974 & 2019

JOLLY HOLIDAY

Our iconic Holiday™ pattern is the #1 bone china dinnerware pattern in the United States. Add a festive accent plate for a delightful Christmas display.

1998 & 2018

MIXED MEDIA

Go bold with a regal Vintage Jewel® pattern over the dark design of Chelse Muse.

2010 & 2019

ABSTRACT ART

Add an artisanal touch to the presidential Independence by mixing in Abergreen's abstract patterns.

130 Years Of Heritage

In 1918, Lenox became the first American china to be used in the White House. Since then, six presidents and first ladies commissioned Lenox to issue new state dinnerware services. Each service reflects the taste of the period and the timeless beauty of Lenox's renowned ivory china.

1918

WOODROW WILSON

President Wilson commissions an official state service of 1,700 pieces which bear the presidential seal in raised gold.

1934

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, tasks Lenox with creating new china in time for an important state dinner in January 1935: one of the largest affairs ever held in the White House to date. The design includes motifs adapted from the Roosevelt family crest.

1951

HARRY S. TRUMAN

Lenox creates a service depicting the new standardized presidential seal showing the eagle facing the olive branches, rather than the arrows, to signify peace.

1981

RONALD REAGAN

President Reagan turns to Lenox to provide 4,370 pieces—nearly twice as much as other services. The pattern features a striking scarlet band to reflect First Lady Nancy Reagan's favorite color.

2000

BILL CLINTON

Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the White House, the Clinton china features a border of pale, creamy yellow and images of the White house facade in place of the customary presidential seal.

2008

GEORGE W. BUSH

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush differentiate their service from the red Reagan china and the yellow Clinton china by choosing green: a color that works with every flower and every season.

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